Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the etiology and frequency of thrombocytopenia in postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients and the complications secondary to thrombocytopenia in this patient group.

Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the postoperative data of 167 patients followed and treated at the cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit. The presence of thrombocytopenia was detected from blood count results in patients’ files. Etiologic factors and complications were assessed in patients possessing thrombocytopenia.

Results: A thrombocyte level lower than 150,000/mm3 was accepted as thrombocytopenia. It was detected in 64 patients (%38.32). Etiologies for thrombocytopenia were the usage of low molecular weight heparin, disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis and septicemia, drugs other than heparin, and systemic diseases. Among these, low molecular weight heparin was the most common reason (n=34, %53.1) and in that particular patient group thrombocyte levels were higher when compared with the other factors (74.842 ± 14.246/mm3, p